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Ajiv
From the second to the fourth chapter, the nature of the living (jiva) element has been described. In the present chapter, the nature of the non-living (ajiv) element is being described.
The categories of Ajiv: non-living body, dharma, adharma, akasha, and pudgala. 1. The four non-living elements are: dharmastikaya, adharmastikaya, akashastikaya, and pudgalastikaya.
According to the rules of definition, the characterization should come first, followed by a statement of categories. However, here the author has stated the categories of the non-living element without giving its definition. This implies that the definition of ajiv can be understood from the definition of jiva; there is no special need to describe it separately. A+Jiv means that which is not living is ajiv. The characteristic of jiva is utility. That element which has no utility is called ajiv. Thus, the characteristic of ajiv is indeed the absence of utility.
Ajiv is a contrasting emotional element to jiva, not merely an absence.
The intention of referring to the four non-living elements (dharma, adharma, akasha, and pudgala) as astikaya is that these elements are not in the form of a specific region or a specific component, but are rather in the form of a comprehensive grouping. Dharma, adharma, and akasha are regional-comprehensive elements, while the pudgala element is component-based and also regional-componential.
In the categories of ajiv, time is not included, as there is a difference of opinion about considering time as an element. Those teachers who regard time as an element still consider it as purely regional and do not regard it as regional-comprehensive; therefore, according to their view, including time with astikayas is not justified. For those teachers who do not regard time as an independent element, it is impossible to include time in the categories of elements.
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